Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel © Jojie Alcantara
Grandeur of Aliwagwag Falls
Text and photos by Jojie Alcantara
The stunning grandeur of Aliwagwag Falls nestled in Cateel, Davao Oriental never fails to elicit gasps and awe from passersby and tourists, but remains to be an undiscovered ecotourism destination because of its far-flung and remote location. At 338 meters high with a jaw-dropping 84 cascading tiers in varying heights, it is said to be the highest and one of the most uniquely beautiful in the country.
Jojie on the road to Aliwagwag Falls captured by sister Karen Alcantara
I struggled on a hired motorcycle to get to this area (three of us were sharing a seat, with me at the end constantly slipping down). The dirt road is flanked by a dense forest thick with heavy trees and occasional cluster of villages. Surviving for years within this woodland is the country’s tallest tree, Philippine Toog, standing majestically as you pass by these giant wonders.
Dirt road to Aliwagwag Falls with tall Toog trees © Jojie Alcantara
Reaching the falls up close is quite another experience because it is just beside the highway and a sight to behold. Somewhere up the topmost tier lies one of many significant caves, said to be an ancient sacred burial location of the tribes.
Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel © Jojie Alcantara
I first visited the falls sometime back in 2001 when I anchored a special travel episode of Davao Oriental for a US cable production. The invigorating waters was cool to the skin as I remembered taking a dip in its clear pool which flows freely towards the Cateel river, renowned for having been awarded as the cleanest river in the region by then.
Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel © Jojie Alcantara
At that time, the Aliwagwag Bridge was newly constructed which connects the municipality of Cateel to Compostela Valley. It would also speed up travel in 4-5 hours by private car from Davao City via Compostela Road (5-6 hours if by Mati City). Buses ply the route daily, and it is easier to reach the municipality of Aliwagwag on such roads today than before.
Jojie capturing the majestic Aliwagwag falls
Declared by our President Noy Aquino as the Aliwagwag Protected Landscape under Republic Act No. 7586, or the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, it protects the mountain range and its peripheral areas as Buffer Zone, “subject to private rights, and without prejudice to the rights of indigenous peoples.” This has been a bill sponsored by then Congressman Cora Malanyaon before she became the provincial governor of Davao Oriental today, and she has long rallied for its protection and conservation.
Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel © Jojie Alcantara
Aliwagwag Falls is not only known for its imposing vista, but its enormous volume of flowing waters that drains into the Cateel River plays a significant and critical role in the irrigation of rice fields in Davao Oriental. It is not only a blessing to the province and the locals, but a beautiful vision worth every photographer’s trek.
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Aliwagwag Falls by Jojie Alcantara
I’ve been planning on going to Cateel for quite sometime now, but my plan has always been side tracked by other destinations on my bucket list. But seeing the pictures here, my desire to finally set foot and savor this breathtaking sight has intensified. My question is, is it better to go there during the rainy season where the the water is surely raging or to wait till, say, october or november where the flow shall have been “smoother”? Thanks for your posts, really inspires me to discover hidden beautiful places of Mindanao. By the way, is it possible to join you in your future trips?
Hi Casper, thanks for the nice message. Just like the famed Tinuyan Falls in Bislig, both look as powerful even on “off season” (though I did see the marked difference in Tinuyan during a drought period). So it doesn’t actually matter what time of the year you will go visit. However, take note that in the rainy season, rough roads will be muddy, more slippery and trickier to maneuver.
Yes, it is possible to join me in my trips, but the schedule varies, and I do often go off on an unpredictable whim. A better chance would be when I conduct another of my workshops in a near location by October.